Verse of the Day 10/8

Through the Bible - Isaiah 41-42, Colossians 3:18-4:18

 

Good morning,

The mid-term elections are less than a month away and the season of political mud slinging is in full swing.  If you watch TV you'll notice that many if not most of the adds in the coming month will be political adds.  The intent of many of them is to smear, belittle and even mock the opponent with half truths in order to win the favor of the voters?  Doesn't make much sense to me.

 

Christian's and churches, sad to say are not above this kind of rhetoric.  How many churches have split over differences in worship music, attire, or even the color of carpet for the sanctuary?

 

Paul tells his readers that they, we, are to put away and rid ourselves of these things (completely).

Col 3:8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self,   NIV

For today's verse we'll go a little further on in Colossians chapter 3 :

 

Col 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  14 But above all these things put on love,   NKJV

What difference would there be in the political arena if politicians would follow this advice, replacing the mudslinging and barbs with kindness, humility, and the like?  What difference would it make in our churches in our homes if we did more of this?

 

Think of what it means to you to "clothe yourselves" to "put on "Christ" as you head out today.   May we do so and follow Paul's advice today forgiving and forbearing (putting up with) one another and our faults.  We can make a difference in our "world", or at least our little corner of it.  Who knows what God might do through it.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Col 3:8-18

 

8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

 

Character of the New Man

 

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.  14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.   NKJV